Trap-door for railway-cars and similar structures.



E. F. CHAFFl-II.l -TRAF DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES. APPLICATION FILED acne, IsIo. 1,1 74,1 1 9. Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

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E. F. CHAFFEE. TRAP DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES.

v APPLICATIONVFILED OCT. 6.1910. 1, 174, 1 1 9. Patented Mar. 7, 1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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insrrnn sra'rnsY vrarnn'r ernten.: EDWARD `F. CHAFFEE, or sYftACUsE, ivnw YORK, assienon To OLIVER. EDWARDS, or sritaonsn, NEW Yon-K. l i

v'JRlifiP-I0012. FOR RAILWAY-CARS SIMILAR STRUCTURES.

Lirama.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDwaRD F. CHAFFEE, ra citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, vcounty of Onondaga, State of New York, have invented certain newjand useful Improvements in Trap-Doors for Railway-Cars and Similar Structures, of

which thefollowingis a: full, clear, and exact description, reference kbeingrhad to. thedraw.

ingsv accompanying the same.

This invention relates generally to Atrap doors for railway cars and similar struc#V tures, as for instance such as are used to' desirable to cover or Abridge over to prevent passengers and others from stepping into such space and being injured thereby.

means of the door and platform.

One of the lobjects of this invention isto provide a trap door Y slidablelengthwise Lof its 'aXialline of hinging or sidewise of the car in which it is used and which turns von its pivotal points inopening or closing a given space in the'platform or platforms.

Another object is to provide simple and easily operable means for vautomatically projecting and retracting the door lengthwise of its axial lineV of hinging by the act of turning it on the'aXial line of the hingi'ng means from one position to'another and back again. Y Y

Another object is to provide a simple 'and reliable means for inoving Va ftrap door lengthwise of its axial line of hinging'or sidewise of the car duringtthe act of closing. thesameand thereby bridging over a space Y between the station and car platforms.

. Another object is to provide ineans for moving a trap door beyond the edge of the platform invwhich it is mounted by a change in positions, one relativelyito the other, of the points of attachment of such Other objects will appear from the ldescription hereinafterV` given. Y

With these objects inview the inventionv n retracted'being seen in full lines... Fig. 4t

consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafterV more fully described and particularly pointed` out in the claims hereunto annexedV andy forming a part of this specification.

specificatin'of Letters raient.

Application filed October 6, `1910.` Serial No; 585,703.

' differing levels ofplatforins at the stations f alongy the line, it hasbeen found desirable to] ing vor entering the cars. f

It has been found in practice that many Patented Main a, ieie.

timesit is necessary to locate some stations l l at points where the tracks are more 'or less curved. Inv such cases that station platform has to be constructed farther away from thek track than is ,the case where the trackjis straight in order that the` projecting ends of the cars shallproperly pass by such plat-. forms. This necessarilyleaves more or lessv space between the cars and the station .platf v forms which is Vdangerous and liable to cause accidents to persons in leaving or entering the cars.` It hasalso beenv found that at some stations it is very desirable to f have the platformk on substantially the same level astlie car platform, while-at `other sta-l tions'oii the saine lineth'eplatforms. arevarlranged, Von suitable levels foruse'withthe ordinary steps commonly kinuse onrailway cars. i f f.

- In, the use of ordinaryrailway cars with use trap doors such asfare commonlyused 1 in'widevestibuletrains for covering and uncoveriiigthe steps .ordinarily used for Athe s0v ingressand'egress of passengers at such staf tioiisfonthe line which'ar'e located at points wherethe tracks arecurved aiid-to project, or move sidewise sucht doors beyond ,theY points wherethe cars stand at the plat'- forms of such `Vstations and thereby bridge overthe space between the platforms ofthe. cars and the stationsk and thus provide safe f and proper passage'forpassengers invleavv Figure 1 shows in plan `view atrap door anda portionof a cali"` platform'illustrating ,i generally the door when-in position foruse y to bridge over agivenspaee between a car' and station-platform, with the meanslbyy which the door is 'projected sidewiseof the car or lengthwise of its axialline ofhinging, which'means isseen in dotted lines. Fig. 2 shows anfedge vview ofthat which is seen in'Fig. l.y Fig. 3 shows portion ofthe door in theposition it` occupies in the open position, or as seen when looking/into. the

interior of the car from the end thereof,- ,the

meanspby which Vthe door'is projected and shows on an enlarged'sc'ale a cross section`r of therdoor hinge illustrating an arrange" ment -of parts whichA it moved length- A modiiied form of Ameans of automaticallyA Like letters lof reference, wherever theyy ,Y occur, indicate corresponding parts of the isk several figures of the drawings.

Gne embodiment of {ny-invention is illustrated in Figs. l to 4l, inclusive,which is the preferredform, and as there seen'the door ishung in the platform A by aform .of hinging means-as lC, 'well known in the art, wherein torsional -springs are used to assist kin opening the door, tliere'being'a sliding *movement on its hinging means given to thedoor in additiontothe turning moven ment heretoforecommon' in this particular level as the car kplatform wliere'it is desired forniY oli' hinging means. vAs there shown the invention isfappliedto an ordinary open platform of a passenger car provided with the,VK usual stepsforuse with ylow station plat,- Vforms thereby adapting the car for use with platforms of substantially the saine height or Vto bridge over more or less of agiven space .betweenV the car' and' station platforms V'l`his. well known forni-of hinging means is shown and described` in-.Patent #781,045, da'tedyFeb.v 7,1905, andi as there shown the*V torsionalsprings aiefcon'nected f with the doorat one end and to'rthe plattorin-at'the `Y other and are arrra'nge'don the aXialgline of i lio Y, V'lf-he hinging.y means the hinge pintles or pivots. tlier-'ormsof hinging means may be employed` if desired, suoli as for instance as 'is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings," which particular form'is seen'in said Patent 7810i5. This vparticular fornfizfoirv hinging-means seen in thisg'patent is nota material portion ofl the l present invention.

C, as #shown in' Figs.

' f1'` to.-fl,f"inclusive,consister-the above well `known formwhichfprovides forgiving the *door the" usual quartert-urn to close or open Vit in-.useand meansv for permitting the dooito move lengthwise ofthe axial 4line of its `hinging means or. sidewise ofthercar and yyet maintain operative connectionrbetween the torsional spring or springs andthe door.

4'lChis is accomplished, as shown, by forming such hinge intwo parts, asc andc, which partsare constructedso that one'may be received by the other and there is an yendwise `part would turn in moving the doorffrom Vone position to. the other. As thus shown the part lc is "KXedly secured .to the' mai-n portion of' the door and is shorter in length than fis' thefpa'rt'cf f to which the ktorsional spring or springs are attached. This part c is given a shape substantially that of the interior of the part c in which it is received' and isv connected to the main portion of the door by being received within the part c and the two parts turn as the vmain portion of the door turns and such vmain portion with the part c attached thereto can move endwise on the part c to the extent that the part c is shorter than Vthe part c,-as seen in Figs. l and 3. The

means, as D, by which such eiidwise movement is given :to the part c .and conse- -quently to the door B to which such part of the hinging means ris secured relatively f to the part of, consists, as thus shown, of the ybar orpiece d, Figs. Zand 3, having at each endthe ball member of a ball and socket joint, 'as d', the other member of such joint being constructed'to receive its Vrespectiveball on the bar as d. @ne socket member ofY such means is attached to the [main portionoi the door, as seen in Figs. l,

l and 3 of the drawings andthe other membei' is.. attached tothe platform or other convenient portion of the car inv which the door is to be used. rlhe bar Z of the moving means, as D, is preferablyformed as shown, but it may be otherwise vformed if desired. rlhe ball and socket joint or connections, as d, are the preferred form of means of con* necting thefmoving means to the door andff car but any form ofconnection which will permit of substantially the `same mode or operation which is herein set :forth will be the equivalent of the forni herein shown in Figs. 1 to l, inclusive.'V f

v`The' manner of combining the means, as D, seen inI these Figs. l to l,inclusive,,with thel door and platform is .such that as the door is turned on its liinging means from the position vseen in Fig. 3 to that shown in Figs. l and 2 the end of the bard which is attached to the door B, describes the arc of a circle whose center is the otherend of that .15

bar, which is, as shown, secured to the platform of the car. As a result the end of the bar Z attached "to the door forces the door to move lengthwise of its hinging means from the position seen in Fig; 3 to that seen in Fig. l, where such door is projected out from the side of the car quite a considerable distance. lVhen the door is turned back or its directiony of movement is reversed the part CZ movesin the same arc of the circle in which, it proveously moved and pulls the door back from the position seen in Fig. l

. y to that seen in Fig. It is to be observed lmovement Aof. one part relatively to the. other, butfthe two parts turn' as a single that the nearer that the pivotal points (Z approacha vertical line, when the'door is inthe position seen in Fig. 3, the greater willY be the sliding movement of the door upon its hinging means and the greater will be the' projection of the door sidewise of the car.

a modified foi-m of buiging mais c and means for moving the door Blengthwise of the axial line of its hinging means, as Df, are seen in Figs. 5 and` 6 and as there shown the door B is hinged to the'platform Arc-f,4

the car by suitable members, as c3, attached to the platform. which receives Ythe! endsv of av rod ci* which is securedasshown'lixedly `to such members and the female members c; attached'to the door and which turn and slide upon the rod c* as the door is moved from one position to another. The means,

- as D", by which the door B is moved 1ength wise of its axial line of liinging to the platform A consists of a lever .d3 one` end of which is pivotallysecured to the doorB-.at and `the other is connected with a worm and nut Z5 mounted upon the roden* at m This lever d3 is fulcrumed at 1/ to a part d which is mounted upon the rod .c4 andj turns thereon as the` door B moves from the open to the closed and projectedposition,

` but is prevented from moving enjdwisefofI the rod c4 by the collars-asd?, secured to the rod `c4 on each side of the lp'artd." As

a result the door, as it moves from the open or retracted'po'sition seen in Figs. 5 and 6,

ltoward the closed or projected positionV for use, the lever Z3 cannot move at the point/v in an endwise direction relatively to the rod 'c4 and the nut/(Z5 necessarily turns :on the l worm or screw Z4 mounted on tliekshaft or rodcL a short distance equaljto` about. a quarter tuin or revolution of the door and the ydoor isrforced to move endwise of the rod-c4t andthe part Z6 co-nnected therewith during the entire extent of the movement Vof Y the door `in the closing' or :projected direction, thus bringing those parts'c5 ofthey hinging means andthe door to which they are attached into position for they projecting portion of' the door, seen at the right `of Fig. 5, into lposition to pass down and feo forni a continuation of the part of the platform as a when the door is fully Yclosed or moved into its fully projected position.

In eachv of the constructionsfhere:shown the projecting means is so connected with i the doorl and platform that the door is p rojected or moved lengthwise of its axial line of hinging as the door is being turned fromk Ythe open to the closed position, `the door iavinga *combined turning andV ksidewise sliding movement onrits hinging means.` As a result Y`'of this combined or compound movement the door is automatically'projected or retractedin theact of turnin'grit `lon its *hinging means.

It will be observed that` in eachconstructionhere shown the hinging means isfs'o formed that the door can vturn independ-v ently of thesidewise sliding movement'or movement lengthwise of `the axial lineV "lof such hinging means andmviceversa. Itl will also be observed that'in each case'theineans n for in oving the door'lengthwise of the axialk line of the hinging'means is attached to the door some distance away from the edges thereof and to theplatform within Y the space to be covered bythe 'door when in f the closed position; alsor that such means, whenthe door-is in theopen position, oc-

cupies but little of such space outside of .k

the hingingfmeans and hence,'does'notma-l v terially interfere` with they egress and in` gress vof those using the car plaform. This form` of hinging vmeansfis'adapted for use) with other specific forms `of projecting and,

V retractingfmea'n's, whether the latter means .is combined with the doorand platform as here shown or in any other mannery that the, constructor seesit to employ.

What is herein `shown and described will 'naturally suggest to thoseskilled in thev art other speciiid forms of means for giving to the tra-p door a sidewise and turning movement and means for'projecting and retracting the door to bridge over or cover a space Lbetween thecarv and stationk platformsand Y modifications of that which is. herein shown .and described which, .while varying in form or details of construction'or arrangement' will havesubstantially the same method vor mode 'of operation in accomplishing essentially the same work as is the case withthatf which isl herein vset forth, hence, I do not v desire to limitfmy invention to'thefspecic forms, constructions or arrangements of parts or devices hereinv shown and described ,but desire to include all forms, constructions and arrangements that are-within'thespirito. j

ofmyinventioii. I n VVhat'Iclaim asnew is: f

l.v A- trap door of the character described provided with means'fo'r hinging it in place to close -an'gopening, which means is con# f structed in two parts one' of which is secured to the inainportion of thedoor and is adaptedl tofengage'with the other and,

slidahly move lengthwise ofthe axial linev of thehinging means, which other part is withthe first mentioned part to hold the 2. A trap door of the characterdescribed adapted to be Vmounted kinvplace andiengage Ytwo yin lposition[relatively to one another K during the turning' and slidingk movements 'of the door upon the hinging means, sub- Astai'itially as set forth. I

provided with 'means for-hinging it in place,k j

part and permit the door to move in two directions, substantially yas se t-fortli.

3. A trap door ofthe character describedv` i provided with means for hinging it in piace place to `engage with the first mentioned Y to close anfop'ening vwhich means is con* structed intwo parts one ,of which is adapt l ed to `be secured to the door and'receive the otherpart andI permit of an endwise movementof'one relatively to the other and fai second. party adapted to y engage' with the first mentioned part land permit itto `turn Aonfgfthe,axiallineof such means, substan- `tial'ly as set forth. Y

4;. A; trap. V.door of thecharacter .described tread surfaces of the same and'when so jconnected to automatically move the YVdoor lengthwise Aof the axial line of the hinging nieansand to turn the/door thereon, sub- Y stanti'ally as sety forth.

,. 5. A trap v door ofthe character described Apro-*ided withY means. forhinging it in place to closean opening, which meansgis adapted f Y to permit thedoor tofinove lengthwise of theaxial line ofqsuch means Vand to turn thereon, and means; adapted to be connected to y,the door underneath the same away from theedges 'thereofandfto the platform, one

" l,portion of which is movable in different directionsfrelatively to another and when so `connected-to automatically move the door Cil lengthwise of the axial line` of the hinging means ,tofclose such opening Aand to turn 'the doorthereon, substantially as yset forth. d Atrap door of thecharacter described providedwith means for hingfing it vinY place to Vclose anopening,which means is adapted `to-ipermitlthe door to move-.lengthwise of Ytheaxial line of suoli means, andrmeans Y". idapted to rrbeconnected to theunder side ofl thel door andtothe platformby a uni- `versal Vjoint which'permits one portion ofy such-means yto move in different directions relatively to, the other `portions and such axial A- line, which means,A` when so connected, is adapted to move the door lengthwise lof stantially as set forth.

.the 'axial line vof AtheY hinging. means, sub- A'trapdoorof thev character -idescribed y provided with means for hinging it in place toelose an opening ofdess dimension in one direction.'thanltheV door itself, which means is' yadapted top ermit the door to kmovev lengthwise l'ofthe axial line of such means, and means vadapted to be connected tothe 'door 'ata distance from. the edges y thereof and ,to thefplatformj,y by' .ba-ll and socket joints and when sov connected to auto n'iatically move the door lengthwise of the axial line ofthe hinging means, substantially as fset forth.

S. In acar platformithe combination, substantially .as setk forth, of an opening therein, adoor. of greater dimensions than the opening n for closing the same, and hingin' means in twoparts for hanging the door in the platform toclose such opening and permit the door to move endwise of the axial line of the hinging means.

9. In a car platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of anopening therein, aldoor of larger dimensions than such 'open' ing, and hinging means for hanging the door Vin the platforniand to turn thereon and .move lengthwise of the axial line of such meansand close such openingas the door is :so moved. l

l0. ln a car platform thel combination, substantiallyas set foith, ofa-n opening therein, ay doorl of larger dimensions than siich opening, hinging means adapted` to hang the door in theplatform .and to turn rand slide thereon, and means connected with the door and'platform adapted to project the door lengthwise of the axial line of the hinging meansvv and cover the opening inthe platform. A v lLInr a ca` platfo 1m the combination, substantially as set forth, of an opening therein, a door of larger .dimensions than siiclropening, hinging means adapted to ,hang the door in the platform with a sidevwise sliding movement as the door turns Ato openv or close, and means connected with the Vdoor and platform adapted to project such door sidewise vand cover theA opening in the platform as it turns; on its hinging means. Y I 'n i 12..' 111 a cai' platform the combination, substantially ,asl set forth, of f an opening ythereinfa door for closing .such4 opening,

liin'in0i;ineaiisfor hangin(y the door in the a 23,. l a a platform. with a compound movement, and

Ameans adapted to befarranged 'within the space to be covered by the door to move it lengthwise of the'aXial line of hinging it to the platform in closing the opening therein. d Y e 13. In a car platform the' combination, substantially as set forth, of an openingV therein, a door of greater dimensions than the opening forv closing the same, yhinging means for hanging the door m the platform with a turning and'sliding movement,

and means connecting with the platform and to the underside of the door adapted to automatically move the door lengthwise of its axial line of hinging to the platform kas 2the' door turns in closing the opening therein. 1

` 'M 'In' a car platform the combination, substantially asset forth, `of an" opening therein, a door for closing such opening,

hingingmeans ladaptedto permit the doorto'y have a compound movement in the opening and closing of: such opening, and means 'adapted to rautomatically move the door lengthwise of the axial linev of the hinging means asl'the door turns to open or closek suehopening the platform. y

15. In a car platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of an opening therein, a door for closing such opening,

hinging means adapted to permit the door to directly with the underside of the Ydoor andr to the platform with a connection permitting one portion of such means to move relatively to the hinging means and adapted to automatically move the door lengthwise of the aXial line of the hinging'means as the door turns in opening or closing.v

16. In a car platform the combination, substantially as set forth, of an opening therein, a 'door for closing such opening,

hinging means adapted to permit the door to have a compound movementk as it turnsA in opening or closing such opening, and means adapted to be connected to both the door and platform within thefspace to be covered by the door when closed, a portion of which means is freely movable relatively to both the door and platform and to project i 'f or retract the door as it turns `on the hinging means in opening or closing. Y

17. VIn a car platform, the combination, substantially as set forth, ofv an opening therein, a doork of larger dimensions-thanY said opening, and hinging means for hanging the door in the platform and to turn thereon and automatically move lengthwise of the aXial line of such means andlclose 'said' opening as the door `is so moved.

18. In a car platform, the combination of ,a door for covering an opening in said plat- (Yopies of this patentimay -be obtained for form, with hinging means 'for the door -having provision for automatically movingthe door lengthwise Vof the axial line of saidhinging means onnthe closing of the door. have a compound movement in opening and Y closing such opening, and means connecting 19. In a car platform, the combination of a door for covering an opening in said plat- I form, with hinging means for the door` havingprovision for automatically moving the door lengthwise of the aXial line of said hinging means to cause saidk door to project vbeyond the side of the car on thev closing ofthe door and for automatically returning the door to itsoriginalV position on the opening of the door. f

20. In a car platform, the combination ofV a door fulcrumed thereon-for covering an o enin therein Vand means co eratin with', saiddoor for automatically causingV said door` to project beyond the side of the car-'on the closingof thedoor.

j Y2l. In a car platform, the combination of a door fulcrumed thereon for covering an',

opening therein, with meansfor automatically causing said doorto project beyond the side of the car on the closing of the door,' Y andmeans tending to open said door. Y v

A 22.A In acar platform, the combination of4 f Y a :door fulcrumed thereon for covering an n opening` therein, with means for automatically causing saidv door to project beyond the side ofthe car on they closing of the door,

and springmeanstending to open said door. f

l' EDWARD F. CHAFFEEi. l Y

Witnesses: v,

OLIVER M. EDWARDS,

.g NELLIE I. GIFFORD.

ive cents each, by' addressing the Commissioner of fatents,` Washington, D. C. 

